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How Childhood Emotional Neglect Becomes Cyberbullying Perpetration: A Structural Model of Alexithymia, Internalized Shame and Self-Compassion
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Mehrafarin Pirzadeh   , Majid Azizi *  , Malek Bastami Katooli , Suhans Bansal |
| Department of Health Psychology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran |
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Abstract: (148 Views) |
Cyberbullying Perpetration (CP) is a multifaceted and complex behavior that significantly affects individuals’ mental health and social functioning due to enduring patterns of maladaptive interpersonal relationships. The present study examined the relationship between childhood emotional neglect (CEN) and CP within a structural model, focusing on the mediating roles of alexithymia, self-compassion, and internalized shame (IS). The sample consisted of 375 active Iranian social media users aged 18 to 35 who completed the Short Form of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Cyberbullying Perpetration Questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Internalized Shame Scale, and the Short Form of the Self-Compassion Scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings revealed that CEN was directly associated with higher CP, and alexithymia emerged as the only significant mediator linking CEN to CP. Although CEN was related to increased IS and reduced self-compassion, these variables did not significantly mediate CP, suggesting that the impact of CEN operates primarily through disruptions in emotional processing and regulation. These results highlight the importance of preventive and therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing emotional literacy, affect labeling, and emotion regulation skills among individuals with a history of CEN, emphasizing that anti-CP programs should prioritize reducing alexithymia and promoting adaptive emotional processing. |
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| Keywords: childhood emotional neglect, cyberbullying, alexithymia, internalized shame, self-compassion |
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Full-Text [PDF 926 kb]
(29 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/02/4 | Revised: 2026/03/10 | Accepted: 2026/03/17 | Published: 2026/05/16
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